The National Maternity Hospital has apologised to a five-year-old boy with cerebral palsy for what it described as the "shortcomings" in the care provided at the time of his birth.
The letter of apology read out in the High Court was part of a €1.7 million settlement secured by Caleb Toner and his family over the circumstances of his birth.
The court heard that Caleb has dyskinetic cerebral palsy and has to use a walker.
The settlement covers the next five years and was reached after mediation. The hospital's liability was agreed at 75%.
In the letter of apology from the Master of Holles Street, Professor Shane Higgins said the hospital wished to apologise to Caleb and his parents, Richard and Deirdre Toner from Clonsilla in Dublin, over the events surrounding Caleb's birth in February 2018.
He said the hospital extended its "sincere and heartfelt apology for the shortcomings in the care provided and for the distress and suffering" caused to the family.
Senior Counsel Maura McNally told the court it was their case that the trace monitoring the baby’s heartbeat showed decelerations and an emergency Caesarean section should have been carried out earlier. This was denied by the hospital.
Afterwards, Richard and Denise Toner said the letter had taken away some of their hurt.
Mr Toner said they wanted to thank Caleb for fighting so hard and being with them today.
He said Caleb brought so much love and inspiration into their lives with his infectious smile and determination to be the best he could be.
The family's solicitor, Roger Murray, said the interim settlement was not a lotto jackpot but deserved compensation for Caleb which would safeguard his future for the next five years.
He said the settlement would help unlock his full potential.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was a fair and reasonable settlement and he was delighted the matter had been resolved.
Before Caleb was born, the family had lost his older brother Conor to a rare genetic disease.
